Help us Implement the Medicaid ABA Benefit!

Another action is required to move the ABA program forward!

Your efforts, along with other advocates and providers, pushed the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to take a small step forward in implementing the Medicaid ABA benefit!

HHSC has sent a letter asking the Governor’s office and the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) to approve funding for the program. HHSC also included proposed rates for provider reimbursement and set a date for the program to start (if funded) for March 1st of 2021 – a year later than was proposed in December of 2019.

Now we need a second push! 

Please contact the Governor’s office, House and Senate Leadership, and the member of LBB listed below and tell them:

• Approve funding for the $7.9 million dollar General Revenue request for intensive intervention behavior services for the remainder of the 2020-21 biennium

It’s also important to remind decision-makers that HHSC must:

• Set “reasonable provider reimbursement rates” to ensure that all children who qualify for the benefit will receive services
• Don’t predetermine and limit services by age – allocate supports according to medical necessity
• Keep other autism services like the Children’s Autism Program separate as the other programs provide a unique set of critical supports and services

Please call or email these offices:

As a reference, below are the information sheets on the Medicaid ABA Benefit, the Children’s Autism Program, and What is ABA? from our first Medicaid/ABA alert.